Animal advocacy group commits to pit bulls

Tasha, a pit bull available for adoption through Williamson County Animal Control and Adoption Center, plays near a cardboard cutout of her with her foster mom, Kathy Sparling, at Sparling’s Franklin home. The cutouts are part of No Kill Williamson County’s Commit to a Pit campaign.
(Photo:
Shelley Mays / The Tennessean
)

Tasha enjoys taking long walks and playing fetch with human companions.

But this bright, sociable 2-year-old, who has been in foster care through the Williamson County Animal Control & Adoption Center since 2013, still hasn’t found a permanent place to set down her dog dish.

Pam Stafford, who is with a local animal advocacy group, says that many potential adopters don’t give Tasha a chance to let her friendly personality shine through once they learn she has the pit bull breed in her background.

“Williamson County Animal Control has made some great strides, but they are no different than any other shelter in that these animals sit the longest,” said Stafford, the education and community outreach chairwoman for No Kill Williamson County TN. “Those looking for guard dogs for their homes wouldn’t want to choose a pit bull. They love people. That’s why they don’t shelter well. They crave to be with one person or family. There’s no aggressive gene.”

To combat what they say are myths tied the breed, No Kill Williamson is launching a new program, Commit to a Pit. For the $30 cost of printing, an individual or group can become a sponsor and get a cardboard cut-out featuring a photo of a pit bull or pit bull mix that’s available at the county’s shelter. The sponsors will then take their cardboard photo to a local business and request that it be placed somewhere in the building where there is a lot of foot traffic.

“It benefits the animals, of course, but it’s also beneficial to the business. People are attracted to kindhearted business owners,” Stafford said. “They can advertise on Facebook, Twitter and their website that they ‘commit to a pit.’ We’re also reaching out to nontraditional pet places, such as banks and furniture stores.”

The program represents an opportunity for those interested in animal welfare to contribute to a cause without spending much time or money.

“You can advocate for it in social media. Tweet it. Make the pit your profile picture on Facebook. Make it your email signature,” Stafford said. “It’s a very easy way for you to make a difference in that one dog’s life.”

Reach Bonnie Burch at 615-771-5421 and on Twitter @BonnieBurch_WAM.

Learn more

No Kill Williamson TN will hold an informational meeting for those interested in participating in the Commit to a Pit program from 6:30 to 8 p.m. July 15 in the Brentwood Library, at 8109 Concord Road, on the corner with Knox Valley Drive. To RSVP for the meeting, send email to nkwctn@gmail.com.